148 PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



able pretensions^ tliongli siuTonnded by well-drained 

 fields. WliY sncli e\'ident negligence should be permitted 

 or overlooked^ it is bard to say. 



Soil. — It has been said above that the soil of a garden 

 should be natui'ally good; perhaps, however, this pro- 

 perty, which is by no means unimportant, should give 

 way when necessary to the considerations formerly 

 adverted to, and to a desirable position in the park. 

 There are few situations in which good soils cannot be 

 formed by artificial means ; but there are some subsoils 

 which camiot be sufficiently dried and warmed by any 

 amount of di'ainage; and there are sometimes good 

 soils whose accompanying disadvantages in site and 

 position can scarcely be remedied or modified by any 

 expedient. Gardens on such untractable sites may be 

 seen on the level grounds by the sides of lakes or streams. 

 In these the soil may be excellent, Avhile the subsoil is 

 incurably damp. There the late spring and early 

 autumn frosts prevail to a greater extsnt than on the 

 adjacent high groiuids, and these may baffle the best- 

 dii'ected efforts of the gardener. The crops of early 

 vegetables are retarded, the blossom of the fL'uit-trees 

 is often destroyed, or, when it escapes, it is followed by 

 deformed and ill-ripened fruit. The proprietor of a 

 garden, formed at considerable expense, is left with a 

 deficient supply, and is mortified by the comparative 

 abundance enjoyed by his neighbours, who have been 

 more fortunate in the choice of a site. A good sound 

 loamy soil is the most useful for general purposes. But 

 if an artificial soil is to be formed, it wiR be found 

 useful to have some variety — one compartment, for 

 example, being composed of light sandy earth, and an- 

 other of strong loam. Peaty and clayey soils are 



